(YBA) Kalath in Wicht's Lair (continued)

[Wicht]

The guards watch Kalath walk away.

The northernmost of the three great houses Kalath observes has the sign of a turtle over their gate.

Eventually Kalath reaches the north eastern corner of the high walls and sees that the path around the lake branchs of to the west and passes along the side of the north wall. There are people walking along this path, indeed it seems to be the way most people are going (either east or west) though there are a few continuing on to the north around the lake (or coming south)

"Move along bub." grumbles an ogre to Kalath as he pushes Kalath out of the way and heads south along the edge of the high wall.

 

[graydoom]

Kalath takes the path westward, continuing towards the southwest pillar.

 

[Wicht]

Kalath is now slightly north of the pillar but as the path continues west and clears the wall kalath can see the pillar clearly. There are no more houses or buildings west of Kalath (though there are to the north). Instead the floor slopes downward and ringing out from the pillar in concentric circles are tents and booths. This seems to be where many of the locals are going to and from. In the distance of the 'room' north of the booths and just west, Kalath also sees a large round structure, for all the world like a coliseum of sorts.

The tents and booths are surrounded by a small fence and as Kalath follows the path to the fenc he sees ahead of him a gate. Above the gate is a crude sign that has the following painted in orange lettering: "tHe BiZZare."

 

[graydoom]

Kalath goes through the gate and enters what is presumably "the bizarre bazaar", or maybe just a circus.

 

[Wicht]

The whole thing seems to be a combination of a bazaar and a circus. The booths and tents are vendors of every stripe, selling fortunes, fruit, fungus and a thousand other commodities.

There are some clowns walking around but they look far from happy as they slap large truncheons against their padded gloves. In fact if not for their attire, Kalath would have guessed they were guards.

Kalath sees a space has been cleared for a mime who is pantomiming fear at being trapped in a box but as Kalath looks closer he sees it is actually just a man dressed as a mime trapped in a soundproof glass box with scorpions on the floor.

A bit further on is a fire-eater. A large fur-covered bat-winged demon tramps past the fireeater, knocking the man out of the way. People give the demon some room but nobody seems suprised to see it there.

 

[graydoom]

Kalath makes his way towards to the pillar, keeping behind the demon and watching to see if it is also headed for the pillar.

 

[Wicht]

Kalath's instincts prove right as he follows the demon towards the pillar.

At last at the center of the "bizzarre" Kalath sees the demon approach a great set of bronze doors guarded by two small demons. The smaller demons hold the door open for the larger one who enters in. The smaller demons close the doors behind him.

 

[graydoom]

Kalath walks up to the bronze doors.

 

[Wicht]

The two small demons stop him, their hooved feet clattering on the rock.

"What is your business below mortal," asks one of them.

 

[graydoom]

"I seek to explore below."